Chapter Six

A week had passed, and Michaela Quinn had been a busy woman! She'd been working twelve to fifteen hours a day at the hospital, and most of her time was spent with her patient from Colorado Springs, Mr. Loren Bray. He was making a wonderful recovery, and Abagail was spending a lot of time reading to him at night. She didn't get out of the hospital very often, but Sully had walked with her on a few occasions, but mostly around the halls of the hospital. Michaela had wanted her to get out, but she wasn't quite so sure that her walking with Sully was a good idea. It wasn't that she didn't trust Sully, but Abagail was a young woman, and Sully was a handsome young man who was not much older than her.

But, then again, Michaela had been spending most of her time at the hospital, and David had been there, helping with Mr. Bray and working with patients of his own. He'd been nothing but kind to Michaela and Sully, though he stayed out of Josef Quinn's path. Josef wanted nothing to do with him. Sully couldn't blame him!

"Abagail? Why don't you go for a walk?" Michaela asked as she checked Loren's heart beat through her stethoscope. "You've hardly been away from the grounds, and you'll be leaving very soon to go back home. You should be able to leave tonight."

"Oh, I'm fine, Dr. Quinn," Abagail said with a sweet but tired smile.

"Go on, Abby. Ya wanna see more of Boston. I know ya do." David walked into the room.

"I'm heading out, Michaela. My shift is over."

"Oh, alright David." She glanced at Abagail. "Say, David, would you mind taking Abagail outside for a while before you go home?" David looked at Abagail. Sully glanced between Michaela and David. He still didn't trust David, and he didn't want a girl who barely knew him going out there into the strange city. He knew he could trust himself, and Abagail would be safe with him. Plus, he was a little ashamed that perhaps Michaela would feel a little jealous. He'd been feeling mighty jealous lately with David sniffing around all of the time. This would be a good way to prove that Michaela had hidden feelings for him too!

"I'll take her," Sully offered. Michaela couldn't help but feel jealous at Sully's immediate offer. Abagail smiled at Sully's offer.

"I think I'll take you up on that, Mr. Sully. I wouldn't want to be a burden to Dr. Lewis." David didn't say a word, and Sully knew he'd rather sniff around Michaela's skirt tails than take some stranger for a walk. Sully now wanted to stay behind, but he couldn't break an offer when he'd just given it. He looked at Michaela, and she was looking at him with a question in her eyes. He wasn't sure what it was about, but he was fairly certain he saw jealousy. He didn't like making her feel bad, but it was surprisingly good to know that she was feeling a little big of the same way he had been feeling lately. It was harmless, and he knew it would pass in time. Abagail was leaving soon, but David would probably be around for a long while.

"Have a lovely time," she finally said.

"Go on, Abby. You have a good time and be careful." Loren looked at Sully. "Ya be good to my girl now, ya hear?" Sully chuckled.

"Don't worry, Mr. Bray," Michaela spoke up. "Abagail's in good hands." That worried her. Abagail tucked her arm through Sully's, and she grinned widely as she looked up at him. Michaela really felt worried now. Sully smiled down at her.

"Ready, Abagail?" he asked. Michaela cringed.

"Lead the way, Mr. Sully."

"Don't get her lost now," Loren said with a chuckle. "Word has it that you ain't been here long neither."

"No, sir, but I had a good tour guide," Sully said, sending a wink in Michaela's direction. Her skin began to feel warm again. Sully left with Abagail.

"Say, doc? You feelin' all right? Ya look kinda red," Loren said tiredly. David looked at Michaela, noticing her blushing and knowing he hadn't put that rose in her cheeks.

"Hmm? Oh! I'm fine. You just rest, Mr. Bray. You might just be on the next train out of here, so just get your rest, and I'll see if I can get your release papers before lunch."

"My Abby, she's a sweet girl."

"Yes she is," Michaela replied with a smile. She started to move, but Loren grabbed her hand.

"Would ya sit with me for awhile? I ain't had a real good conversation with nobody for a while," he said with a chuckle. "Abby's always tellin' me to rest, and I think that's most of the conversation we usually get in lately. She's like her ma in that way…always thinkin' 'bout everyone but herself." Michaela smiled.

"She's only concerned about you."

"I'm fine." He shook his head. David cleared his throat and excused himself. He had planned on going home, but he decided to linger in the hallway now that Sully was out of his hair for a while. Perhaps he would get to have a nice conversation with Michaela without Sully hovering around the corner, in the next room or even on the other side of the hospital. "When my Maude died, I was lost. Abby was there for me though. She was a girl of fifteen. Fifteen." A look of realization came over his face. "Maude's been gone for 'bout five years now."

"I'm sorry to hear that. You both must miss her dearly." Loren nodded.

"She died of a weak heart," he said with a frown. "It's ironic, 'cause Maude had the biggest heart. She was kind to everybody, no matter of the color of their skin or the way they talked. She always wanted to get to know new people. I sure learned a lot from her. When she first met me, I was…well, I'm surprised she gave me the time of day. But that was just the way she was. She was always lookin' to help people see things the way they should be."

"It sounds like your wife was a wonderful lady."

"Oh, she was. My Abby is turnin' out a lot like her." He smiled. "She's always done good with so many things. She learned how to ride a horse when she was five. She was racin' the boys in town by the time she was ten, and she was winnin'." Michaela chuckled, though she was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. Loren made it sound like his daughter was the perfect young woman. If she was so sweet and wonderful, what was Sully going to think of her? Michaela hated the fact that she was feeling jealous. It wasn't as if Sully was her property or her beau. She had no right to feel this way.

Loren was starting to get tired, so Michaela stood.

"Mr. Bray, thank you for our talk."

"What are ya talkin' about? I didn't let ya get much of a word in."

"It was still lovely." Michaela smiled, and he looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes. The truth was that she didn't have many meaningful conversations with anyone…except Sully and her father. Anyone else she spoke too seemed to have better things to do.

"I never thought ladies could be pretty and be a doctor at the same time." Michaela's cheeks flushed. Was it the pain medication talking? "Heck, I never thought there could be lady doctors. But, you're a good one. Ya saved my life."

"I was just doing my job," she replied.

"Yeah, but ya did it good." Loren finally dozed off, and Michaela pulled his blanket up on him. He was a kind man with many years still left in him. She watched him a little while longer, making sure he was comfortable, and she finally left his room and started into the hallway. David was waiting. He stood when he saw her.

"David? I thought you were going home."

"Not without saying goodbye first," he replied, stepping closer. Michaela looked up at him, nervous again. This was the first time this had happened in the past week, and she didn't like it. She still had a long day ahead of her at the hospital, and she didn't want to spend it with David looking over her shoulder the entire time.

He was staring at her, and it made her feel different. The one eye he was looking out of was filled with such a desire that it made Michaela back up. He followed.

"David, I'm going to go get some fresh air," she said quietly. She started toward her and Josef's office where she found her coat. As she was putting it on, she turned to find David near.

"I'll join you," he offered.

"I'd really like to be alone right now. You should go home." Michaela hurried out of the hall, turned the corner, and she rushed out of the building. She ran into her father as she stepped down onto the sidewalk.

"Mike," he said with a smile.

"Father? What are you doing here?"

"My job, my dear," he chuckled. "Are you feeling well?"

"I'm fine."
"You look exhausted. Why don't you go home? I'll see to Mr. Bray."

"I have so much to do. I shouldn't," she said, shaking her head.

"Yes you should. If any of the other doctors ask, I'll tell them you're ill."
"Don't lie for me," she replied with a chuckle. "I'm fine."

"You need rest, Mike. You've been so busy lately. A few hours of rest won't kill you." Michaela decided that she was too tired to argue, so she gave him a quick hug and started on her way home.

Michaela stepped into the house and handed Harrison her coat. He brushed the snowflakes off of it before he went to find the broom to sweep it up with. Michaela entered the parlor and placed her medical bag down on a table. Elizabeth saw her, smiled and hurried over to greet her. Michaela sure wasn't expecting that!

"Good afternoon, Michaela!"

"Mother?" Michaela asked.

"When were you going to tell me?"

"Tell what?" Michaela asked with a yawn.

"About David!" Michaela froze. "You never said he was back in town."

"I didn't?" she asked, not really caring.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Are you two going to be courting again?" Michaela pulled away from her mother.

"Of course not. We're just…friends." Even that word seemed foreign to her when talking about David. Elizabeth sighed. "How did you hear about it?"
"Your father mentioned it. He didn't sound very happy, but I'm thrilled! Oh, Michaela! You could be so happy!"

"I'm perfectly happy without David," Michaela replied. "He's the one who broke our courtship, remember? If he hadn't, I would have."

"Your father said that David claims he's a changed man. Do you believe it?"

"I suppose it's true," Michaela replied, moving over to grab her medical bag again. She swallowed hard and moved into the foyer. Elizabeth followed.

"He's a good man, Michaela. He always has been. You've had your disagreements, yes, but he's a good match for you. Apparently, he's willing to put up with your choice in profession. I'd say that's a good match, wouldn't you?"

"Put up with? I don't want someone who will put up with it. I want someone who will accept it fully and support me because of it." Elizabeth sighed with exasperation.

"Michaela, you are living in a fantasy world. You think you can do anything, but you can't! You're a woman, and women can't do everything."

"Why not? Why can't we try?" Michaela looked at her mother with disbelief in her eyes. "You can't honestly tell me that you've never once dreamed of doing something that it wouldn't be accepted for a lady to do." Elizabeth looked away.

"Perhaps when I was young and foolish. You'll learn one day, Michaela, that you can't go around filling your head and others with this nonsense. Even though women are permitted to become doctors now, they'll never be accepted within society."

"Maybe not now. Someday."

"You're not getting any younger Michaela. Your sisters were your age and younger when they married. It's time for you to settle down and start a family before it's too late!" She paused, seeing this wasn't causing much of a reaction from Michaela. "I don't want to see you get hurt! If you settle down with David, you'll never have to worry about this again. You won't have to work. He'll support you both." Michaela was angry now!

"As a matter of fact, mother, I want to work! I don't want to become a housewife who cooks, cleans and darns her husband's socks all day like you! Wait, I forgot, you have Martha to do that!" Michaela put her hand over her mouth right away, feeling guilty about saying those things to her mother. She didn't regret it though.

"Mother…I…"

"No," Elizabeth said, putting her hand up. "If there's one thing I taught you as a child it was to speak your mind but watch your words." Michaela looked away. "You may not see it, Michaela, but I'm proud of you. You remind me of myself when I was your age." Michaela looked at her mother with tears in her eyes. She didn't want to end up like her mother. She didn't think she ever would, but just knowing that her mother had said that struck fear into her soul. She loved her mother dearly, but she couldn't stand the woman on most occasions. She didn't want to turn into a bitter old woman who tries to control her children's lives.

"Excuse me," Michaela whispers shakily. She left the foyer and rushed up the stairs. Before she reached the top, she stopped on the landing, looking up at the large painting and remembering when that was first created. She and David had painted it together a very long time ago. He'd painted the dark and she'd painted the bright. The colors were starkly contrasted, but they seemed to show so much about each of their states of mind at that point in time. David had been dark and overbearing, and she had been bright and full of adventure. Medical school had been an adventure in itself. Oh how she hated that painting now. Every time she looked at it, it reminded her of how horribly things had ended and how nasty David had been to her.

She felt tears springing to her eyes again, and she rushed up the rest of the steps, retiring to her room to write in her diary and try to forget about her mother, David and the painting on the landing.

Sully didn't return to the house until shortly before dinner. Elizabeth and Josef had retired for a nap, Martha was cleaning up the kitchen, and Harrison was having a break outside. Michaela was waiting in the parlor for Sully, because she knew he would be home soon. She had contemplated going back to the hospital, but Josef had returned to say he had gone ahead and signed Loren's release papers, and he and Abagail were free to go back to Colorado Springs.

She felt guilty for feeling relieved. Abagail would be going too. Oh, she liked the girl enough, but the way Abagail looked at Sully and held so tightly to his arm made her nervous. What if Sully fell for her? Well, Michaela couldn't blame him. She was the one fighting her feelings for him. She really had no right to get in the way.

It was a quarter to seven when Sully arrived. He put his coat in the closet, and he started toward the stairs. Michaela heard his footsteps, and she stood, turning in his direction.

"Sully?" Sully turned at her voice. He smiled at her as she joined him in the foyer. "How was your stroll with Abagail?" Sully shifted nervously, sensing the tension in her voice. He knew she was trying to hide the fact that she was worried.

"Fine," he replied. "Fun. I took her to the park." Michaela smiled. "They're on the train to St. Louis now. They'll be back in Colorado Springs by next week, I imagine." Michaela nodded.

"Oh. Well, Loren should be fine, and I'm sure he has the good sense to stop to see a doctor to get his stitches out like I instructed him yesterday." Sully chuckled.

"Don't worry. I reminded him five times 'fore we got to the train station." Michaela grinned.

"Good," she said with a nod. They moved into the parlor to sit in front of the fire. "Abagail seemed to enjoy your company."

"She was nice to talk to," Sully said with a smile. Michaela swallowed hard. Sully opened his mouth to speak again, but Martha came bouncing in.

"Miss…Dr. Quinn?" Martha asked.

"Yes, Martha?" Michaela asked, almost thankful for the interruption.

"Dr. Lewis is here to see you." Michaela sighed, stood and followed Martha into the foyer. Sully stood and quickly followed after. David stood in his best suit with his hair combed back handsomely.

"David, what a surprise," Michaela said with her nicest smile.

"I received a dinner invitation from your mother just a few short hours ago. Elizabeth Quinn certainly worked fast!

"Did you?" Michaela asked. "Well, dinner should be served soon, so won't you come in?"

"Allow me to escort you into the dining room."

"Dinner won't be for another hour, David," Michaela replied, starting for the door.

"Please?" He flashed her a charming smile, and Michaela sighed. She shook her head with a slight smile. She knew it was polite to be courteous to guests. There was no harm in walking arm in arm with him for a few short moments. She did catch Sully's gaze out of the corner of her eye, and for a moment, she thought he looked jealous.

When they entered the dining room, Michaela took herself from David's arm.

"I'm going to go change for dinner." She moved into the hall, and Sully gently touched her shoulder. She turned to face him.

"You okay?" he wondered.

"Yes. I'm fine."

"You sure ya want him here?"
"Sully, everything will be fine," she assured him. "Do you want to change for dinner? You've been in those clothes all day." Sully chuckled as he followed Michaela up the stairs. Josef and Elizabeth were just coming down from their nap, and they had changed into new clothes as well. Sully had been around them long enough to know that this happened nearly every day unless they had an early dinner. Sully didn't really see the sense in changing out of perfectly clean clothes just to eat dinner, only to change out of them and go to bed shortly after.

"Father, mother's dinner guest has arrived," Michaela said quietly.

"Oh splendid!" Elizabeth spoke up, starting down the stairs ahead of her husband. Josef looked questioningly at Michaela.

"She invited David," Michaela whispered. Josef tensed and gripped the banister. "Please, father. We can get through this tonight. I don't want to start anymore arguments."

"I'll be kind for your sake, my dear, and your mother's." He kissed her upon the cheek, and she went up to change clothes. Josef grabbed Sully's arm before he finished climbing down the stairs. "Don't worry."

"Worry? I ain't worried," Sully replied. Josef chuckled.

"Just don't expect Mike to go back to him. David's being here is only pouring salt into an unhealed wound. I'd be very surprised if Michaela agreed to court with him again." Josef patted him on the back and started back down to the dining room.

During dinner, Michaela was mostly staring at her plate, and she had eaten very little. Sully was concerned, and he couldn't help but feel something boiling inside of him at the way David was staring at Michaela. Michaela didn't like all of the staring either, and she didn't like the constant looks Sully and David were giving one another. She knew Sully didn't like David, and she knew David wasn't a fan of Sully's either. She hated feeling as if she was on display or caught in the middle somehow.

Josef was silent, and Michaela knew it was because of David, though Elizabeth was giggling and carrying on, happy to have David seated around their family dinner table once again. Sully was quiet, and he was making small talk with Josef, and Michaela felt incredibly uncomfortable. She felt as if she was suffocating. If that wasn't bad enough, it was about to get worse.

Harrison walked in, standing stiffly with a look upon his face that spelled could have spelled impending doom.

"Mr. Albert Johnson is here," he explained tensely.

"Ah, yes!" Josef exclaimed, happy to be able to break the tension around the table. "Send him in." Harrison left, and Michaela's cheeks grew red. Why Albert? Why now?

"Father?"

"I'm sorry, Mike. I forgot that I invited him as a thank you for seeing to the upkeep of our home while we were away."

"A task I could have done easily enough myself," Elizabeth replied with a shake of her head. That was a lie, but Elizabeth liked to pretend she knew how to do the things she couldn't comprehend, such as seeing that the bills were paid and the house was run accordingly, including handing out pay to Martha and Harrison. She'd never dealt with finances or any of those things as a young woman, and when she had married Josef, she left that up to him.

Albert stepped into the room.

"Good evening," he said with a smile. That brightened when he spotted Michaela. She felt her heart leap into her throat, and she wanted to crawl under the table. As Albert sat down, Michaela sensed tension between all three of the men who had kept or wished to keep her company.

Elizabeth and Josef immediately began talk to both David and Albert. Michaela was feeling suffocated as the conversations continued. The dining room was loud, and Michaela was beginning to feel overwhelmed. Sully noticed that Michaela was trying her best to eat, but with each question from her mother directed in David's direction, Michaela wanted to run out and gasp for breath and forget the rest of the night.

Finally, Michaela had had enough. After Elizabeth asked David of his plans to stay in Boston and pick up where he left off, Michaela stood. It was only a matter of time before Elizabeth started making plans for a wedding that would never take place.

"Excuse me," Michaela said quickly, her face flushing from the tense feeling in the room. "I need some fresh air." Albert, David, and Sully stood, but Michaela's eyes locked on Sully's.

"I'll join ya," he offered. Michaela thankfully nodded, and both Albert and David reluctantly sat back down. Elizabeth was about to say something to her daughter, but they were already leaving the dining room. Josef put his hand on Elizabeth and patted it to let her know that everything was all right.

Sully draped Michaela's coat over her shoulders as they headed out the door, and he watched as she swept snow off of the porch step and settled down. He smiled before sitting down beside her.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yes. I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"It's David," she said softly. Sully immediately felt jealous again. David and Michaela had been spending a lot of time together. Perhaps Michaela was starting to feel something for him again and didn't realize it yet.

"What about him?"

"I'm not sure. I suppose I'm feeling crowded. It seems that he's always there." Sully sighed a little. So was he!

"If you're feelin' crowded," he began, "just tell him. If ya feel like I'm crowdin' ya…"

"No! You're not. Don't think that," Michaela said quickly. "I'm comfortable with you." Well, that was when she wasn't having certain thoughts about him and daydreaming about being in his arms. That was when they weren't stealing glances at one another in hopes that the other wouldn't notice. "David's been out of my life for a long time, and now that he's back…I know I said I wanted to be friends again, but it isn't that simple. He's always there when I turn around, and I feel as if I'm being suffocated."

"Just tell 'im."

"Oh, I don't think he means any harm. He's not like Albert, whom I can put down gently. David knows that my feelings about him aren't stable at the moment."

"How's that?"

"He thinks I'm going to fall in love with him." She shook her head. "I don't think that could ever happen. Not after all of this time. Not after everything that happened in the past." She sighed and rubbed her tired eyes, and Sully suddenly felt like a fool. He'd been jealous of a man who'd hurt Michaela in the past. He knew he'd never hurt her the way David had. He just didn't know if he'd ever get the chance to prove that. "Sully?"
"Hmm?"

"I can't help but wonder if…if you wanted to go out West with the Brays."

"What?" Sully asked, stunned by her out-of-the-blue question.

"I know you want to go West. Sully, if you want to go now, I'll pay your way." Sully held up a hand and shook his head.

"No. No, I appreciate that, but I fully intend on payin' you and your pa back for all your hospitality. I ain't ready to go West yet. When it's time, I'll know it." Michaela smiled a little.

"You're sure?" Sully nodded.

"I ain't got that feelin' that's pullin' me there yet. Not like Abagail's got."

"What?" Michaela asked.

"Abagail's got someone waitin' for her back in Colorado Springs. She's engaged." Michaela felt her heart lighten, and she felt foolish. How could she have been so stupid? She had been jealous of Abagail Bray without even knowing the circumstances Abagail had a fiancé waiting for her back home. "I figure that someday, no matter where I am, my heart'll tell me when it's time to go home."

"Home?" Sully nodded.

"Wherever my heart tells me to go," he replied. Michaela felt herself blushing. "That'll be home." Was he talking about Boston? Was he talking about her? She couldn't help herself. She hoped he was.

"Sully?" He looked at her, his eyes staring into her soul. "Thank you."

"What for?"

"For being there for Abagail and Loren. For helping me get Loren to the hospital. Sully, Abagail might not have a father today if it wasn't for you helping me."

"You're the one that saved his life." He smiled at her. "Besides, it was nice to feel needed. I ain't felt that way in a long time." Michaela stared at him, and she knew he was thinking of his parents. They had been so dependent on him for a very long time, and for the first time in his life, he was free. He was free to do what he pleased, but he still chose to help people when they needed him. She'd never met a man quite like Byron Sully. He was a man who could make her heart skip a beat at the slightest touch, her cheeks flush red with a single word and her pulse quicken with a single glance. He was the only man who had ever made her feel like she was falling…falling in love.